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You are here: Home / Archives for Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

Running for a Cause

April 20, 2017 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

04-21-17 Jocelyn at the Finish Line

 

Jocelyn Anderson of Plympton ran her first marathon Monday in Boston with Tedy’s Team, in support of the American Stroke Association. She raised almost $11,000 to help fund stroke research. She ran in memory of her father, John Anderson, who died after suffering a stroke 15 years ago.  Tedy Bruschi, a member of the New England Patriots, suffered a stroke at the age of 31 and has committed himself to being an advocate and inspiration for stroke survivors everywhere.   Jocelyn’s personal goal was to finish the race, raise awareness about stroke, help fund stroke research, and although it was dark when the finish line came into view, the light from her smile at meeting her goal was light enough.       

Filed Under: More News Right, News

Budget challenges for Public Safety Building project

December 15, 2016 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

By James Bentley

Express Correspondent

On November 30, the Plympton Public Safety Building Committee met to discuss plans for new police and fire stations. The committee expressed concern that actual cost will exceed the estimated cost the committee was initially given.

Historic Commission chairman Jon Wilhelmsen said, “When you look at the study that was done before, they did not suggest that we were going to build a police station for a million dollars. It did not say anything close to that.”

The committee directed much of the meeting toward addressing these challenges and trying to find a way to overcome them. Wilhelmsen says, “The question is whether the $1  million or $1.5 million that’s being thrown around was ever a realistic number.”

One of the concerns addressed was the cost of the sprinkler system. Because there would be cells in the basement of the new police station, a sprinkler system is necessary there. To save on the overall cost of the station’s system, the committee suggested potentially using one tank for both the police and fire station.

Another option the committee explored was decreasing the overall size of the station. Board of Health Chairman Art Morin mentioned the square footage may need to drop to around 6000 square feet.

Morin said, “We might like to have something, but they might not be practical within cost … It’s not that you’re trying to make everyone work out of a tiny space, cramped space, but there are some things that we are going to have to give up.”

The board discussed some of the items Police Chief Pat Dillon was willing to cut. He thinks the square footage can be brought down to between 7,200-7,500 square feet.

Morin believes the size can be cut more if no fitness center is included in the new police station. He did admit this would probably not be a popular decision.

The committee still has work to do to address these challenges, but they did discuss another plan that has the station at around 5,800 square feet. Options will continue to be explored at the next meeting scheduled on December 20, 2016.

Filed Under: More News Left, News

Turkey Trot at HES

November 9, 2016 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

By Kimberly Cicone

Special to the Express

Most of the 593 students of Halifax Elementary School took to the fields Wednesday, October 26th, to participate in the 18th Annual Turkey Trot.  Each year, the Turkey Trot focuses on healthy habits, school spirit, and recognition of a month-long food drive that benefits the Helping Hands of Halifax.   

Students ran the Turkey Trot by grade level in a cross-  country style run around the Halifax athletic fields culminating with a healthy snack provided by Nessralla’s Farm and hot chocolate courtesy of Halifax Walmart and Halifax Elementary School PTO.

Throughout the month of October, students, families, and local businesses have generously donated food items to be passed on to the pantry.  Proudly, 1275 donations were made by the students.    At the center of the donation are turkeys, an all-time high of 40 turkeys were purchased by the generous donations from local families, teachers and local businesses. Alex Meade, a Halifax parent and owner of Preferred Mechanical Services  of Pembroke, pledged 15 turkeys for the third year in a row.  Many thanks to all that donated!

In early November, the following Halifax Elementary School students, by virtue of their exemplary performances at the Turkey Trot, will help present our donation to members of the Helping Hands of Halifax.

1st Graders:  Logan Hellisek, Riley Walkus, AJ Saba, Brielle Robinson, Leland Dowd, Jake Ledwell, Monica Rekford, Brayden Toon, Alyssa McPhearson, and Ryan Carroll.

2nd Graders: Wiley Makepeace, Max McEwan, John Lindsay, Lilliana Parmeggiani, Jaelyn Guimares, Emily Keegan, Kylie Walsh, Quinn Pomella, and Aubrey Quirke.

3rd Graders:  Kylie Soucie, Thomas Powers, Ava Carroll, Tyler Carroll, Mason Gilcoine, Alivia Phillip, Caitlin Snow, Ashton Rosano, and Zachary Peach.

4th Graders:  Cassidy Conroy & Michael Delaney

5th Graders:  Katie Dyer, Nick Najaulis, and Jack Quigley.

6th Graders: Megan Laliberte and Daniel Sullivan.

Filed Under: More News Right, News

Walmart gives HFD $2,000 donation

October 20, 2016 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

The Halifax Fire Department would like to graciously thank the Halifax Walmart for their generous donation of $2000.

Every year the fire department applies for local, state and federal grants and puts the money to good use in purchasing state of the art equipment, protective gear and training.

Like anything else the purchase of advanced equipment and gear weighs heavily on department budgets and we rely on the grant process to supplement our capital and operating budgets.

This money will be used in purchasing a new SCBA mask with a built-in Thermal Imager camera.  The SCBA mask (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) is what we use to enter hostile and hazardous environments.  The Thermal Imaging component of it further enhances our operational capability by giving us the ability to see radiant heat signatures in a smoke filled environment.

These heat signatures are used to detect other people or firefighters who may be in danger or in need of a rescue.  This mask will be put to use right away on our front line piece of apparatus and will help give us another cutting edge that we need to effectively do our jobs.

Captain Jeffrey Cuozzo, Halifax Fire Department

Filed Under: More News Right, News

Tick-borne Diseases: Be Aware Special health program outlines prevention and treatment

September 15, 2016 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

What do you know about ticks and what diseases they may carry? The health agent from Halifax Board of Health and the public health nurse from NVNA and Hospice address awareness needs and concerns of tick-borne diseases in a special health program scheduled later this month. Offered free to the general public in Halifax on September 20 and September 28, the program addresses personal protection measures to prevent tick bites as well as signs and symptoms of tick-borne illnesses and measures to take if you have been bitten by a tick. A question and answer period follows the presentation.

People can choose from two presentation dates: Tuesday September 20, 2016 at 1pm and Wednesday September 28, 2016 at 6:30 pm. Both are offered free at the Holmes Library in Halifax. For more information or questions, please contact the Halifax Board of Health at 781-293-6768.

Filed Under: More News Right, News

Area is deemed “low risk” for EEE and West Nile Virus

August 25, 2016 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

As of August 15, Halifax and surrounding towns are listed as a “low risk” community for EEE and WnV.

The Halifax Board of Health has been notified about a mosquito with EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis) in Middleborough (July 12) and one in Kingston (August 15). It was found in a Culex mosquito, the Culex restuans. Natural and artificial containers are the preferred larval habitat of this mosquito. It feeds almost primarily on birds but has been known to bite humans on occasion. This species is typically collected from May to October but can be found year round as it readily overwinters in man-made structures.

Cx restuans has been implicated as a vector of WNV. Take this bird biter as a warning. People have control over stagnant water in containers: buckets, tarps, tires, etc. Rinse them out, turn them over.

Rinse bird baths at least twice a week.

Residents should continue to take precautions including removing all containers with standing water such as accumulating junk in the yard, not maintaining swimming pools and allowing them to sit with green stagnant water, along with toys, tarps and tires.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health wrote:

Although there has been less evidence of EEE activity this year than in some recent years, the late heat and humidity this summer are perfect conditions for mosquito activity.

The peak time for transmission of EEE will continue through at least some of September.

The types of mosquitoes most likely to carry EEE are considered to be active dusk to dawn but the timing of that activity can be impacted by temperature, humidity, cloud cover and day length. In addition, active participation in outdoor sports increases our availability to mosquitoes. Physical exertion and sweating may also change individual attractiveness to mosquitoes and may decrease the time that repellents are effective.

DPH is writing to ask you to help us get the word out to residents, schools and athletic groups, that it is important to take steps to avoid mosquito bites. Know the drill – mosquito repellents, clothing and limiting outdoor activity during peak mosquito activity hours.

Also, keep in mind that our residents travel between cities and towns regularly and some of those may travel from areas not familiar with EEE.  They may not be mindful of the importance of preventing mosquito bites.  Please remind them.

To call for ground spraying of your property, call Plymouth County Mosquito Control at 781 585 5450.

Individuals can call the Project, between 8:00am and 3:00pm on Monday through Friday, to request that their property be sprayed. The Project’s phone number is (781) 585-5450, fax (781) 582-1276 or mail us at P.O. Box 72, Kingston, MA 02364. To find out where the spray routes are going to be, call (617) 582-6219 (during spray season). Plymouth County Mosquito Control Project

For more information on EEE and WNv, please see DPH’s site at: http://www.mass.gov.

Filed Under: Breaking News, News

Early voting preparatons in Plympton

August 25, 2016 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

The Town of Plympton Residents will be accommodated by the Town of Plympton Town Clerk, Tara J. Shaw, to “Early Vote” in the November 8th Election based on the terms provided in M.G.L. c. 50, § 1 (950 CMR 47.00: EARLY VOTING PROCEDURES).

Qualified voters may vote early in person at the Town of Plympton Town House or by mail and only in the town in which he or she is registered to vote. The deadline for the last day to register to vote for the November 8, 2016 Election is Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. The designated polling location is the same as all other Town of Plympton Elections located at the Plympton Town House, Community Meeting Room, 5 Palmer Road, Plympton, MA 02367. The mandated early voting period is Monday, October 24, 2016 and Friday, November 4, 2016. (Guideline specifics are as follows:  The voting period for early voting shall run from the eleventh business day preceding the general election until the close of business on the business day preceding the business day before the election; provided, however, that if the eleventh business day before the election falls on a legal holiday the early voting period shall begin on the first business day prior to the legal holiday.) To help clarify this law, and in the case of the Town of Plympton, Early Voting hours will be limited to the normal business hours of the Plympton Town Clerk which are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Monday evenings 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The specific dates are October 24-27 and October 31 – November 4.

“Generally, keeping polls open under normal circumstances is expensive, and that is true for early voting as well. This is the reason we are conducting early voting using the Town Clerk’s Office regular business hours within the time period mandated by the state. Back in January when meeting with the Finance Committee for the FY17 Budget, the specific guidelines for Early Voting had not been ironed out by the state, therefore, I did my best to predict costs for at least one additional Election Worker in addition to myself and my Assistant Town Clerk to accommodate Early Voting. In an effort to not put a strain on the already tight budget needed to perform all of the tasks in my office mandated by the state, and in a lot of cases, unfunded mandated costs, I am prepared to put in additional time if needed to help streamline the process and to keep the residents of Plympton informed. More informative material will follow by way of Town of Plympton website News and Announcements and Plympton-Halifax Express updates. Thank you for your patience as we launch ourselves into a new era that includes Early Voting!”

~ Town Clerk Tara Shaw.

Filed Under: More News Left, News

Troubled waters ahead for Brockton: Calter calls on Brockton to ‘come clean’ about drastic situation

August 18, 2016 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

SILVER LAKE – State Representative Thomas Calter (D-Kingston) today (August 17) said that residents of Brockton face the very real prospect of running out of water within the next several weeks if the drought continues and Brockton officials do not develop a backup plan.

Calter, who recently wrote a column that appeared in the Kingston Reporter and Plympton-Halifax Express, said that the Brockton Water Department needs to come clean about the drastic situation that the city faces and develop a plan to protect the city in the event that Silver Lake is unable to meet Brockton’s water demands.

Calter noted that Silver Lake, which is the water source for the City of Brockton, is in imminent danger of falling below the level where it can provide water to Brockton.

“The water level in the lake has dropped to historic lows.”He further noted that West Monponsett Pond, which is a backup source of water to Silver Lake, cannot be used to make up the deficit because the level of cyanobacteria is 10 times the health standard.

“There is a real concern because of the drought, which has brought the water to a dangerous low. The levels today are comparable to 1986 when Brockton declared a water crisis.”

Recently, representatives of the Jones River Watershed Association were invited to discuss the crisis at a Brockton City Council meeting. However, that presentation was thwarted by the City’s Legal Counsel who demanded that the public presentation be cancelled.

“People may think that Brockton’s desalinization plant can meet their water needs. However, it can only provide 30% of Brockton’s daily needs,” Calter said. He added, “There is an option for Brockton to hook up to the MWRA (Massachusetts Water Resources Authority) in Stoughton, but that action would require several months of construction.” He said, “We don’t believe that Brockton has researched that or any other option.”

“We are concerned that the city will run out of water without warning and without a backup plan.” Calter said. He has briefed the Governor, the Secretary of Environmental Affairs and the Brockton Legislative delegation of the current water shortage and of the serious health concerns related to the poor quality of water in Monponsett Pond.

Filed Under: Featured Story, News

Business Certificates needed in Plympton

August 11, 2016 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

Plympton Town Clerk Tara J. Shaw would like to remind people who have a business office in Plympton, that they MUST file a business certificate with the office of the Town Clerk.  The certificate is good for four years, and then must be renewed.  Any time the information on the business certificate changes, or the business is discontinued, an amendment must be filed.  The following definition and requirements of business certificates is as follows from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts web site:

BUSINESS

CERTIFICATES

(110 MGL §§ 5 & 6 and 227 MGL § 5A)

The primary purpose of filing a business certificate is to protect consumers or creditors by identifying the names and addresses of the owners of the business. The filing of a business certificate does not protect a business name as does a corporate filing or a trademark registration. A business certificate filing is commonly called a “d/b/a” (doing business as).

The filing of a business certificate may be used in connection with a court case to show when a business name was first used in a community and to enjoin another business from using an identical or similar name. If you need information on legal protection of a business name you should contact the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office, Corporations Division or your own lawyer.

Any person conducting a business, individually or as a partnership, in the Commonwealth under any title or name other than his real name, must file a business certificate with the clerk of the city or town in which the business has an office. The term person includes a corporation.

The certificate must include the full name and residence of each person conducting the business; the place, including street and number, where the business is conducted; and the title under which the business is conducted. The certificate must be signed under oath by each person conducting the business, certifying that the statements contained in the certificate are true. The certificate may be signed in the presence of any of the following: the town clerk, the assistant town clerk, a person designated by the town clerk, or a person authorized to take oaths, such as a notary public. Each person wishing to file a business must produce evidence of his identity.

Please stop by Town Clerk’s Office for Business Certificates. Fee for filing a business certificate is $20 (expires in 4 years)

Amendments and Discontinuances to Business Certificates

If a business is discontinued, or if the information related to the business or the individuals conducting the business changes after the original filing, a statement of discontinuance or of the new information must be filed with the clerk of each city or town in which the original business. The fee for filing the amendment or discontinuance is $5.00

Fine

Violations of 110 MGL §§ 5 & 6 and 227 MGL § 5A shall be punished by a fine of not more than three hundred dollars for each month during which such violation continues.

Filed Under: More News Right, News

Water Risk Rises for Brockton & Monponsett Pond

July 28, 2016 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

By State Representative Tom Calter (12th Plymouth District)

Fifty-two years ago, neighboring communities of Brockton came together, despite concerns, to provide a stopgap measure to supplement Brockton’s insufficient water supply during a time when drought left the City at risk of burning from fire.

Yet, as we face a looming public health crisis with the continued degradation of Monponsett Pond, and cyanobacteria counts growing more hazardous by the week, Brockton water officials continue to refuse to change their irresponsible practices that have defined their management approach for over five decades.  In fact, they won’t even acknowledge their role – as dominant as it is.  Recently, Brockton Water Commissioner Chair Ossie Jordan, claimed that there is “no problem” with water quality or quantity for residents of Brockton and challenged people to “get the right information”. With that in mind, I’m writing this article to provide some important facts that he omitted. 

In 1964, the passage of emergency legislation, Act 371, authorized Brockton to access Monponsett Pond in Halifax and Furnace Pond in Pembroke as part of their supply, which already included Silver Lake.  The fact is: hand-in-hand with granting this access, Act 371 also established the Central Plymouth County Water District Commission as the legal water management authority charged with ensuring that practices promote safe and sustainable drinking supplies for all of central Plymouth County, as well as protecting the ponds’ pre-existing recreational and economic uses.

Following years of closure of West Monponsett Pond due to spikes in unsafe cyanobacteria levels and negative ecological impacts on the pond and Silver Lake, the CPCWDC and I have been working diligently with Brockton officials for over 3 years to get all parties talking about solutions.  Originally we had hoped that with the sharing of facts and data, Brockton would show interest in the same common good that delivered them a drinking water supply amidst their own crisis.  However, the fact is, despite scientific research and data presented, Brockton continues to keep the sluice gate at Stump Brook closed, ignoring the authority of the CPCWDC in the process.  In doing so, they keep West Monponsett Pond stagnant, all-the-while knowing that such action is a significant contributing factor that makes conditions ripe for cyanobacteria blooms to grow and flourish. And flourish they have.

The Mass Dept. of Public Health sets the safe contact standard for cyanobacteria at 70,000 cells per liter.  The fact is that a sample collected from West Monponsett on July 11th came in at over 1 Million cells per liter. Over 1 Million –that’s 15 times the public health threshold for contact.  Certain strains of cyanobacteria can manufacture toxins and these toxins can produce adverse health effects.   Physical ingestion can cause illness and research now shows that these toxins can even become airborne, with a range of miles, bringing respiratory problems and increased rates of ALS and Alzheimer’s with it.  Residents who live around the pond are often afraid to open their windows or leave their homes when the cell counts are high.  The notion made by Brockton Rep. Michelle DuBois that residents of Halifax want their beaches back to sunbathe is beyond offensive.

While disregard for their neighbors’ health is bad enough, perhaps what’s worse is disregard for their own responsibility to ensure a sustainable and safe water supply for residents of the great City of Brockton into the future. Many times over many years, Brockton has been advised that reliance on Silver Lake for the majority of its water source was inadequate and that additional supplies must be developed to ensure a sufficient water supply in the event of a drought.  This prompted the use of Monponsett in the first place, and now that source may be ruined.  Yet, they evidently continue to view Silver Lake as ‘theirs’, when in reality Brockton doesn’t own Silver Lake, any more than any municipality can.  The fact is – it is a Great Pond and is owned by all people in the Commonwealth. The privileged rights of access Brockton enjoys absolutely do not give them the right to destroy it. 

Moreover, the bacteria cell count in Monponsett Pond far exceeds the safety standards for swimming and yet this water is dumped by the billions of gallons into the Silver Lake drinking water supply, with a nod from Commissioner Jordan that they “might increase some of the chemicals we put in if that became a problem.”  I’m not a chemist, nor a doctor, but I’ve learned enough about the harm of chemical exposure on the human body to be weary of that as a go-to solution for an ongoing problem.  Prior to becoming a legislator, I spent 30 years in the environmental remediation industry, I know an environmental blight when I see it, and I know that knee-jerk chemical treatments are merely masking the problem.

Brockton officials deny the risk to public health and to the sustainability of their water supply.  Monponsett’s degraded water quality is fueled by excessive nutrients and the presence of cyanobacteria cells.  During the non-summer months Brockton diverts that highly degraded water into Silver Lake.  It is only a matter of time before Silver Lake is also pushed over the edge and mirrors the dangerous conditions in Monponsett.  So, while Rep. DuBois and others mistakenly believe that this is purely a recreational problem, it could soon be Brockton’s drinking water crisis.  Brockton’s citizens and the residents around Silver Lake cannot afford this destruction of a precious resource.   

The towns of Halifax and Hanson, the CPCWDC, and local watershed associations all recognize that there are multiple contributing factors to the cyanobacteria problem. They are all doing their part, spending significant money and time in upgrading septic systems, water treatments, public education on fertilizers, and working with the agricultural industry to stem the problem. The one significant contributing factor that remains unhindered is the water stagnation. That is controlled by Brockton water officials and they must do their part.

The fact is, the City of Brockton has an alternate water source readily available through its contract with Aquaria, yet they rarely use it and when they do, it is minimally.  Water from Silver Lake is “free” after all and Aquaria water is not. I represent constituents of 6 towns, all of whom pay for the precious resource of clean water. We’re not asking Brockton to do anything we aren’t already doing. Tying in to the MWRA is another solid alternative with hook up points in neighboring Stoughton that make it a very viable option. The cost of responding to a water crisis far exceeds a proactive approach and if these existing sources are lost due to water safety and poor management, there is no predicting how expensive that “free” water will become.   

The MA Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) has long been aware of the draw-down impacts on Silver Lake and the deterioration of Monponsett Pond, and at my urging eight months ago, began preparing a new Administrative Consent Order for Brockton to comply with. However, I am extremely disappointed that several months of negotiation with Brockton has not resulted in any work product, and the heat of the summer is now upon us.

I’ll remind readers that the water crisis in Flint, MI was borne out of prioritizing cost savings over water safety. Citizens of Flint repeatedly raised concerns about the quality of the drinking water, and repeatedly, these concerns were dismissed. The water crisis in Toledo, OH, caused by a massive cyanobacteria bloom, left a half a million residents without safe drinking water despite continual advance warnings from the EPA about its vulnerability and the Toledo’s lack of preparedness.

Similar to the crises in Flint and Toledo, the warnings about Brockton’s water supply are being voiced and dismissed.  No one wants to see this evolve into a public health emergency and yet, the path to that end is visible. If Brockton officials choose again to look the other way and not take meaningful action, I will file legislation requiring them to hook up to the MWRA as a sustainable and reliable water resource.  For the sake of meeting basic water needs for the people of Brockton, AND for the sake of the health of residents living in proximity to Monponsett Pond and Silver Lake, it is time for Brockton Water Commissioners to finally change their ways and do what is right – for the common good.

Filed Under: Breaking News, News

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